How much does Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) coverage cost?

Copays, deductibles, and coverage limits vary by program. The Minnesota Health Care Programs benefit summary (PDF) gives you an idea of costs you may have to pay.

MA enrollees do not have copays, deductibles or co-insurance. However, some MA enrollees have premiums, spenddowns, waiver obligations or parental fees.

Some people who have more income than the MA income limit allows can qualify using a spenddown (PDF). A spenddown lets you deduct certain medical expenses from your income. MA will pay for covered services after your income is at or below the income limit after deducting these medical expenses.

Some people who are 21 years old or older pay a premium for MinnesotaCare. A premium is the monthly fee that members must pay to start and keep health care coverage. How much you pay depends on your family size, income and the number of people getting coverage. 

The MinnesotaCare premium estimator (PDF) can give you an estimate of your monthly premium. We will tell you the actual amount when you are approved for MinnesotaCare. 

People who do not pay a premium include: 

• Children under 21 
• American Indians who are members of a federally recognized tribe
• Some military families. Military families may be able to get coverage without a premium for up to 12 months if a family member completed a military tour of duty within two years of being approved for coverage. This benefit is available to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. 

Most MA-EPD members pay a premium. The MA-EPD premium estimator can give you an estimate of your monthly premium. We will tell you the actual amount when you are approved for MA-EPD. People who are American Indians do not pay a premium for MA-EPD.

Effective July 1, 2023, parents no longer have a parental fee for children enrolled in MA under the TEFRA option or for children receiving home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers. Parents are still responsible for parental fees that were assessed for their children before June 30, 2023. 

Parental fees may still be assessed for children who have a developmental disability, or a physical disability or emotional disturbance in 24-hour care outside the home. This includes the following: 

• Medical facility such as a nursing home or an intermediate care facility for a person with a developmental disability
• State-operated psychiatric hospital for children
• Psychiatric residential treatment facility

• County and tribal offices
• DHS Health Care Consumer Support (HCCS)